Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-22


evening-1ue Of those sweet, quiet even
ings peculiar 70 the b8imy and, deliciou
atmosphere Of Southwestern Texas. Tn
days laoor had lust closed, and the ne
grGes were marching to their quarter
from the ti-lds, with laughter and wit
songs full Of fun and local illusions.
They need never call the half sick!y
half sentimental and all nonsensical effu
sions OF city E -hiopiau minstrelsy en- imi
tation of southern plantation melodies
they are no more like them than a turnil
is like an orange. Go and hear the "flriDs
up" "isuCing,". or "gOod-bye" Ch0Tuse
of the black hands on a southern CotyOI
boat, or the old homestead songs of Tegu
lar southern darkeys, and you will heaI
musiC-music as natural as the gushing
of bright waters Or the carol OF forest
birds.
Mr.. Delorme was seated, as was his
wont al that hour, on his broad piazza, il
opposition which commanded a view OF
the gate. His entire family was around
him-that is, his wife, daughter and Pau
MalersCn. L2gon8, too, stood near,
p leaning against the trunk of a shade tree,
regarding the group with q quiet and
mOurnfuI expression, which, Of IItc, hsd
been almost constant with him lis tai
and elegant f,rm-his noble features, al
set off vi h his picturesque costume,
made him indeed very handsome.
At this moment man, roughly dressed,
yet full as well as the ordinary class of
men in that section, drove through the
gate in g covered, single wagon. HIS
face was dark, as # with exposure to the
weather, and his thick, bushy hair and
heavy beard were red as fire, and coarse
and tangled. 1t seemed that he was not
poor, for he drove q splendid horse ahead
of his wagon, and wore a heavy gold
chain over his rough vest, ana very
costly pin IN his dirty shirt bosom.
81 wonder who that can be coming
here?" said Paul, as the stranger Gp-
preached.
'He is dressed more like 4 Niger
trader than gentleman" ss1d Mr. De-
lOrme. "Perh8ps he is some hall starved
out up-cOuutry planter, looking for land,
l see he has servant in the back part of
his wagon
IA woman reckon your first thought
was the best--he's niger trader" said
Paul.
By this lime the wagon had halted in
front 81 The house, and its driverslighted.
Glow dye do, sir?" said the stranger
to Mr.. DeioTme in a hOarse, gruff tone.
O''PYe been DOM this way a sellin' off a
lot of darkeys-got only one left, and as
night was 8 comm on, seem your plan
tatioI concluded Ia stop"
"YOu are welcome to put up for the
night" said Mr.. D@lorme; ,"but I've got
as many hands IS l want, especially house
=,
hardy enough for the field"
"No-nCt exactly, l took her in the
way of trade. Light, Lena-be spry, gal,
or I'u help you with my whip" said The
stranger, roughly.
The girl at first shrunk back, as if she
feared the trader would strike her, and
then sprung likely out upon the side of
the wagon opposite from him.
"She's IS lively as a kitten if she's only
stirred up once in g whiIe!" continued
the stranger. "Pd like to get rid of her.
for she's the last O. my lot, and l want to
go back to ST. Louis for more"
"What pretty quadrOOn she is, and
bashtul, too, Tor Niger" said Paul, no.
ticing that the girl seemed to shun OBJ
servation. "She'd make a nice waiting
maid for you, Stella. II had the money
I'd buy her and give her to you.n
'fFoI the matter o. that, young gentle
man." said the stranger, "I'll take your
note for a year. made and pervided, though,
that this old gentleman, whom l take 10
be your father, will indoTse your paper.
I'll likely be around this way again."
"It is not likely that my uncle will in
dorse my note" said Paul quietly.
eyes, since you design the girl as q
present to Stella, will not refuse" said
Mr.. DeIorme, pleasantly.
Lena was now sent to the kitchen t.
get her supper with the other servants,
while the traders horse was put up, and
he invited into the house. Though Mr..
Delorme did not like his rude looks or
ways, nor his business, still he extended
to him the same hospitality that hewOuld |
have afforded to a gentleman.
CHAPTER XIII. 4
It was night, and in its stiffness two |
persons stole out from the mansion of |
Mr.. DelOrme-stole out silent in the |
darkness, as if by some preconCerted |
agreement, and did not pause until they
were beyond hearing of its inmates. They |
were John MaiersOn, and Ada-the dis |
guised Lena.
When they had reached small orange !
grove, they paused and entered into con-
versstiOn.
sis all arranged-the sale made?"
asked Ada, in low tone.
eyes," replied Malerson; "here is his
note snd the bill of sale for my girl, Lena,
for $1,000. signed by me as John Rath-
bone of St. Louis. 1 had to work some
to get so high a price, but was afeard if
| let YOU 60 low they might suspicion
that all wasn't right! But Miss Stella
took 8 Iikin' to you, cause you seemed so
modest when l sent for you to come in
the parlor and be looked at, aud l knew
that au was right so long as she wanted
you!"
at was terrible ordeal to be scru-
tinized by him who has sworn to be mine
forever" murmured Ada. "TerribIe to
be so near her whom hate, and see the
false traitor cast on her the looks of love
which were mine-mine only. But il is
past, and my hand is stronger, my will
more deadly, Cor it,"
"That red Indian seemed to take
great fancy to youths eyes were on you
all the time"
81 noticed his look, but there was more
Of suspicion in it than admiration for me.
[ fancy he loves Stella Delorme, therefore
must hate Paul. If he did not love her,
be might become my assistant; but as it
Is, he would be tire first TO guard her. l
must beware of him."
"I'd like to have dig at him know !
now who it was that killed Sandy Spicer
IN the night we made the attack here!" S
"You must not med0le with him-you {
will have enough TO DO to get me of, c
Ifter my work is done."
ffThat's so--and l suppose we had bet e